Coastal Carolina’s body of work proves it’s more than a fairytale

If the shoe fits, might as well wear it.

Like a homely dame whose beauty becomes apparent to all just in time for the ball, the Coastal Carolina baseball team has earned “Cinderella” status on a national scale.

Hailing from a small school in a tiny town and an equally diminutive conference in terms of profile, resources and respect, it is easy to understand why the glass slipper has somewhat of a teal, black and bronze gleam.

But as has come the case for much of the past several weeks, all of the above reasons have been used to underestimate just how good the Chanticleers truly are.

Certainly, the Big South Conference does not have the clout of others, in particular heavyweights like the Southeastern (SEC), Big 12 and Pac-12 conferences. However, as has become a common refrain in football circles, judge a team by its character and ability rather than the teams with which it chooses to align itself.

Coastal Carolina largely went unchallenged in Big South play, winning each of its series against conference foes en route to a league crown.

Winning the Big South was already enough to earn a seat at the NCAA baseball tournament table. But for a program that has become a fixture in the event, getting there simply wasn’t enough.

A brief look at the Chanticleers’ 2016 slate reveals exactly what coach Gary Gilmore thinks of his team – and program, for that matter.

Where most programs would schedule a cupcake in an effort to boost win totals and confidence, Coastal Carolina instead loaded its docket with top instate foes, perennial powerhouses and other larger schools.

An early season triumph over defending champion Virginia put the nation on notice, while a thumping at the hand of Ole Miss let the Chants know there was still much work left to be done.

Visits to Columbia and Atlanta prepared Coastal Carolina for the hostile environments awaiting it in Raleigh, N.C., Baton Rouge, La., and most importantly Omaha, Neb., and the College World Series.

Yes, the Chants are a team from a small school, small town and small conference. But what this squad lacks in size, it makes up for in skill, belief and grit.

Before the season, Coastal Carolina had aspirations of ensuring it would be a special one by the beach. As if making it to the program’s first College World Series wasn’t historic enough, the Chants are two wins from truly leaving their mark on the program and forever etching their names in college baseball lore.

For some time, Coastal Carolina has served as a standard of excellence in the Palmetto State. It has been on the precipice of great things for much of the past 20 years, only breaking through at the right place, at the right time.

Some may think of this team as a Cinderella story, but such judgment is only reserved for those who’ve rarely watched or followed the team over the course of the season. But for coaches, players and fans of the program, this is simply the result of years of hard work, dedication and a willingness to take on anyone at any time.

This beauty has been a pageant mainstay for some time. It’s just that now, Coastal Carolina baseball is finally getting warranted attention as potentially the best in the ball.

Of note …

Despite turmoil and financial unrest in as a result of the United Kingdom’s choice to leave the European Union, the Euro 2016 soccer tournament rolls on this week, as the round of 16 is whittled down from the round of 16 to an elite eight. As of Sunday, the host nation – France – had advanced, along with renowned talents the like of Gareth Bale, Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo, leading their Wales, Poland and Portugal sides, respectively, into the quarterfinals. Still, the world champions from Germany lurk in the shadows, looking to add a European title to its trophy case. … With basketball entering its business phase and the College World Series winding up, Major League Baseball takes center stage. There remains plenty of baseball left to play, but the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco seem to be on a fall collision course in the National League. On the other hand, Texas has emerged as an early favorite in the junior circuit, while Baltimore’s offensive firepower makes it a threat. … The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, after a brief three-game road trip to Salem, Va., will host the Potomac Nationals for the holiday weekend before taking to the road for the duration of the following week.

This story was originally published June 26, 2016 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Coastal Carolina’s body of work proves it’s more than a fairytale."